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Growth-and Some Decline-of the Churches / 95

Chippewa (now Crown Hill) with the Swiss brethren; then to Stark County to see Michael Horst, and on to Holmes County to see George Mumaw; back to Chippewa again, and thence to Medina County for four appointments and visits with Jacob Kreider, deacon, and Martin Leatherman, minister. Writing from Zellenople [sic] Pennsylvania, he looked over his journey and said, "Pen and ink cannot express my love and heartfelt wishes to all God-fearing people."

"A Pleasant Visit"

J. J. Weaver of Lagrange County, Indiana, reported a "Visit to Ohio" in March 1881. Going to Wood County he met with the brotherhood in an Evangelical church. In Ashland County he attended four meetings where people "very much desire to be visited by ministers." In all he had fourteen meetings.''

Henry Eyman's visits to Ohio are recorded in the Herald of Truth of January 1882 and December 1886. On his first visit which included Allen, Columbiana, Wayne, and Holmes counties he met Bishop Michael Horst "with whom I was a schoolmate in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but whom I had not seen for thirty-four years." At Orrville he writes of meeting many dear friends. He visited his wife's homestead in Holmes County and then went on to Allen County where he called on John M. Brenneman. He writes: "Many a time had we sat under his voice years ago and many times had we longed to see and hear him again. . . . We had a pleasant visit and conversation with him, perhaps the last for this world." Fellowship was deep and real in those pioneering days and the bonds of brotherhood had in them the note of the Eternal.

C. Christophel of Goshen, Indiana, reports a visit to Ohio in June 1875, being accompanied by Henry Shaum. The two men were commissioned to solicit aid for Russian Mennonites in Kansas. Their trip took them to Allen, Wayne, Medina, Stark, Holmes, Columbiana, and Mahoning counties. Thus the Ohio churches participated in this important benevolent program of the second half of the nineteenth century.

The Love of Music

While the East and the West came to Ohio, so also did the South. Christian H. Brunk of Dale Enterprise, Virginia, taught sing-


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